Chinese Eggplant Stir-Fry

Long, skinny Chinese eggplant pairs with ginger, garlic, and a kick from red chili. This is a gluten-free, fat-free stir-fry dinner for anyone wanting bold Asian flavors. Serve over brown rice or next to edamame for a quick vegan meal.

Procedure

To prepare the eggplant: Cut your eggplant in half length-wise. Then cut into thick 3/4-inch half-moons. Place the eggplant in a single layer in your preheated pan. Let sear, without moving, for about 5 minutes. When eggplant is well-charred on one side, flip and char on the second side, another 3-4 minutes. Remove from the pan and return the pan to heat. You may need to work in two batches, depending on how wide your pan is. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan or the eggplant won't brown properly.

To prepare the scallions: Meanwhile, trim the ends of the scallions. Cut into thirds, about 3 inches long. Add the scallions to the pan. Let char for about 5 minutes. Then, stir and continue cooking until brown all over.

9.99

To make the sauce and finish the stir-fry: Peel and mince the ginger, garlic, and red chili. Mince the dried dates. When the scallions are charred around the edges, add the ginger, garlic, red chili, dates, and vinegar. Add 1/2 cup of water. Return the eggplant to the heat. Saute everything 3-5 minutes over high heat, until aromatic and eggplant is tender. Add water, as needed, to prevent burning. Stir well to combine. Pour in the tamari and turn off the heat. Taste to adjust seasoning.

Garnish with toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Chef's Tip: Keep the seeds of the red chili if you want extra heat. You can easily bump up the flavors here by doubling the amount of garlic, red chili, or ginger you use.

Sweet, licorice, and a little kick: this flavor combination in Chinese Five Spice powder is the star ingredient in this easy, elegant recipe. Crisp pears and sweet figs are poached for natural sweetness for a healthy, fat-free dessert. Serve with chilled Chia Coconut "Cream".

What's the best way to get the peel off of ginger without wasting much of the root? Use a spoon! Chef Katie Simmons shows you this easy, knife-free technique to get the most out of your ginger. Recipes and more at: www.plants-rule.com

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Plants-Rule (TM), Copyright 2014 by Katie Simmons. All photos, recipes, videos, and articles are property of Chef Katie Simmons unless otherwise cited. All rights reserved. Please seek the advice of a medical professional before making dietary changes.